Boy scout signaling device



Oct. 1, 1929. H. c. MEYER BOY SCOUT SIGNALING DEVICE Filed ma 2, 1928Patented Oct. 1, 1929 PATENT oFF IcE I HARRY c. MEYERQoF BUFFALO, NewYORK BOY scour SIGNALING DEVICE Application filed May 2,

This invention relates to a signaling device for reproducing thepositions of the Boy Scout .semaphore code.

Its main object is to provide an inexpensive miniature reproduction of ahuman figure which can be operated in the home by recruits to aid themin learning the signal code.

A further object is to so construct the actuating mechanism of'thefigure that its arms by the movement of a single actuator may be swungindependently and differentially, or simultaneously and uniformly to thevarious positions required by the'code, thus simplifying the operationof the device.

In the accompanying, drawings F i ure 1 is a front view of the deviceshowing tile arms swung to signal the letter R. Figure 2 isan enlargedrear view thereof with the arms in the same position. Figure 3 is a viewsimilarto Figure 2 with the arms swung to indicate the letter P3 Figure4; is a top plan viewof thedevice. Figure 5 is a per spective view ofthe pivoted guide. I

Similar characters indicate corresponding- .25 parts throughoutthe-several views.

T 10 indicatesa suitable'bas'e from the front portion of which rises apost 11 to which a figure 12 representing a Boy Scout is fastened. Theseparts may be stamped ofsheet r metal or constructed of any otherappropriate material. i

' The arms 13 carry the usual signal flags 14:,

andare pivoted to swing vertically. For this ends of rotary shafts '15journaled in a cross piece '16 secured to the back of said post, theseshafts extending through the adjacent portions of thefigure to supportthe arms on the the front side thereof. l

the cross piece '16.

20' indicates an actuating bar or member.

purpose, they are tightly secured to the front Secured to the. rear endsof the shafts are pinions 17 which mesh with gear sectors 18. mounted onhorizontal pivots 19 carried by 1928. Serial No. 274,498.

erally. A pair of downwardly converging links 23 connect the respectivegear sectors 18 with the upper end. of the said actuating bar in suchamannerthat upon sliding thebar up or down in its guide the sectors areoscillated, thereby turning the shafts 15 and swinging the arms of thefigure through a greater or less arc according to the stroke of the bar.The latter has a convenient handle 24. so

By simply moving the actuating bar ver-. tically in a straight line, thearms are simultaneously swung upward or downward, but by swinging thebar to one side or the other, it acts as a lever and through the actionof the links 23 moves the arms independently of' each other, permittingone arm to be moved through a greater or less are relatively to theother by one and the sameactuating bar or equivalent element. Thiscapacity of the de vice to impart either a uniform or a differentialstroketo the arms enablesit to reproduce the various positions of the.Boy Scoutsemaphore code. I This is due to the fact thatby a straight,vertical sliding movement of the actuating bar the angular movement ofboth links is uniform, while by a combined sliding andpivotal movementof that bar, one of the links in certainpositions of the parts swingsidly and does not. disturb the position of the companion gear sector andarm, whereas the other link exerts a pulling or pushing force on thecorresponding sector, causing the latter through the pinion 17 to swingthe companion arm accordingly. For example, after both arms have beenextended to a horizontal position by a straight vertical movement of theactuating bar, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a short swing of the bar tothe position shown by full lines in Figure '3, will swing the left handsector and the corresponding arm upward, whileleaving the: other sectorand arm at rest, thus signalingt-he letter P of the code. -Aga'in,assuming the arms to be extended horizontally, a combined sliding andswingingmovement of the actuating bar to the position shown by dottedlines in ure 3, willswing the left 'hand'arm-downward at an angle ofabout ninety-degrees and the other upward at an angle of fortyefive degrees, signaling the letter C. The arrangement illustrated in thedrawings, in certain positions, permits one arm to swing through an arcof one hundred eighty degrees while the other remains at rest.

To predetermine the various positions of the actuating bar correspondingto the Boy Scout code, a suitable chart 25 is combined with the bar.That shown in the drawings is secured vertically to the back of the post11 and preferably concealed by a shield or background 26 rising from thebase of the figure. This chart bears letters or other charactersproperly located to indicate the positions of the actuating barcorresponding to the code, and the bar carries one or more pointers 27,28 co-operating with the letters in such a' manner that when a pointer,by the movement of the bar, is brought into register with a givenletter, the arms of the figure will be moved to the corresponding signalposition. Preferably, the letters are disposed in two groups one abovethe other, as shown, and the bar has two 013- positely facing pointersfor the upper and lower groups, respectively. This arrangement permitsthe letters to be widely spaced andmade of legible size. To more readilyassociate each pointer with its companion group of letters, the upperpointer and corresponding letters may be colored red, for example, andthe lower ones blue.

Satisfactory results are obtained when the parts are so assembled thatin the extended horizontal position of both arms, the central teeth ofthe gear sectors 18 mesh with the pinions I7.

As all arm positions of the Boy Scout semaphore code can be reproducedby a single actuator, the operation of the device is easy and simple.Its construction is also'simple and its cost of manufacturecorrespondingly small.

It is interesting and helpful in learning the code. group of recruitsmay operate the figure from itsrear side, while the others try to readthe signals from its front side. "While the mechanism herein shown anddescribed is desirable for effecting the various movements of the arms Ido not wish to be limited to that particular construction, as othermeans com- 1ng w1th1n the scope of the claims may obviously be employed.

I claim as my invention 1. In. a signaling device of the characterdescribed, comprising a figure having sidewise, vertically-swinging armsfulcrumed thereon, means for actuating the arms relatively to each otherto simulatethe semaphore signaling code, and means for predeterminingthe positions of said arms in ac-.

. cordance with such code.

2. A signaling deviceof the character described, comprlsing a figurehaving sidewise, vert1cally-sw1ng1ng arms fulcrumed thereon,

For example, one member of a means for actuating the arms eithersimultaneously and uniformly or independently and differentially tosimulate the semaphore signaling code, and means for predetermining thepositions of said arms in accordance with such code.

4. A signaling device of the character described, comprising a figurewith movable arms, actuating means for swinging the arms to variouspositions, and a code chart associated with said actuating means forpredetermining said positions.

5. A signaling deviceof the character de scribed, comprising a figurewith movable arms, and means for swinging the arms independently with adifferential motion to various positions indicative of the semaphonesignaling code, including a unitary actuator having a compound slidingand pivotal movement.

6. A signaling device of the character described, comprising a figurewith movable arms, and means for swinging the arms independently with adifferential motion to various positions indicative of the semaphoresignaling code, including an actuator slidable vertically and pivoted toswing laterally in a plane substantially parallel with the figure, andpivoted connections between the respective arms and said actuator.

7. A signaling device of the character d;e scribed, comprising atig-ure'wioh movable arm-s, an actuating bar capable of a compoundsliding and laterally swinging movement relative to the figure, andmeans for swinging the arms, including oscillatory members respectivelyconnected therewith and links connecting the respective oscillatorymembers with said actuating bar.

.8. A signaling device of the character described, comprising a figurewith movable arms, a guide pivoted to swing in a plane substantiallyparallel with the figure, .an upright actuating bar slidable in saidguide, means for swinging the arms including gear sectors, i23nd linksconnecting said sectors withlsaid ar.

9. A signaling device of the character described, comprising a figurewith movable arms, means for swinging the arms to various positions,including an actuating member having a pointer, and a chart bearingsign-alarms, a chart bearing a plurality of groups of signal-codeindications, and means for swinging the arms to various positions,including an actuating member having a plurality of pointers, eachco-operating with one of said groups.

11. A signaling device of the character described, comprising a figurewith movable arms, a chart bearing a plurality of groups of signal-codeindications, and means for swinging the arms including an actuating bartraversing said chart with a compound sliding and pivotal motion, saidbar carrying oppositely directed pointers, each co-operating with one ofsaid groups.

12. A device for simulating the semaphore signaling code, comprising afigure having arms pivoted thereon, motion-transmitting means forswinging said arms about their pivots, an actuating bar capable of acompound sliding and laterally-swinging movement relative to the figure,and links pivotally connecting the actuating bar with themotion-transmitting means, said links intersecting each other at theactuating bar and being joined thereto at a common fulcrum point.

HARRY 0.. MEYER.

